Skirting for mobile homes

ABSTRACT

Vertically directed panels of the skirting for a mobile home are secured to, and depend from, an elongated supporting member which is fastened to the lower portion of that mobile home. That lower portion will be essentially horizontally directed, and it will be free of the irregularities that are frequently noted in the surface of the ground below a mobile home; and hence that elongated supporting member will be essentially horizontally directed, and will thereby enable the panels of that skirting to be essentially vertical as they depend downwardly from that elongated supporting member. The lower ends of the panels of the skirting extend into a relatively deep, elongated, retaining member which rests on the ground; and the lower ends of those panels are spaced far enough above the bottom of that relatively deep, elongated, retaining member to accommodate any and all anticipated movement of that relatively deep, elongated, retaining member relative to those lower ends of those panels as the ground shifts and &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;heaves&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; throughout the years. The elongated supporting member and the relatively deep, elongated retaining member each resiliently grips the panels of the skirting, and thereby keep those panels from fluttering and vibrating when the wind blows. Moreover, protected ventilating openings are provided in limited areas of each of the panels of the skirting to permit desirably limited &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;breathing&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of the area below the mobile home.

United States Patent 1191 Hindman 1111 3,832,813 [451 Sept. 3,, 1974 SKIRTING FOR MOBILE HOMES [76] Inventor: I Milo F. Hindrnan, No. 15

Evergreen, Centralia, 111. 62801 [22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 282,478

'[51] Int. Cl E04h 1/12 [58] Field of Search 52/DIG. 3, 155, 169, 222, 52/198, 199, 302, 303, 336, 448, 533-535, 537,588, 674, 675, 529, 531, 518, 519,

[56] References Cited p UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,336,945 4 1920 Dickelman 52/199 x 1,613,101 1/1927 l-larshberger, 52/519 l,981,434 11/1934 Shodron 52/303 X 3,106,411 10/1963 Holmes..... 52/D1G. 3

3,245,186 4/1966 Jentoft 52/450 3,452,501 7/1969 Zimmer et al. 52/625 3,571,998 3/1971 lacona 52/478 1,220,463 3/1917 Schnug 52/553 X R26,l41 l/1967 Hickman 52/336 X Primary ExaminerAlfred C. Perham [57] v ABSTRACT Vertically directed panels of the skirting for a mobile home are secured to, and depend from, an elongated 1 supporting member which is fastened'to the lower portion of that mobile home. That lower portion will be essentially horizontally directed, and it will be free of the irregularities that are frequently noted in the sur- -face of the ground below a mobile home; and hence that elongated supporting member will be essentially j horizontally directed, and will thereby enable the panels of that skirting to be essentially vertical as they depend downwardly from that elongated supporting member. The lower ends of the panels of the skirting extend into a relatively deep, elongated, retaining member which rests on the ground; and the lower ends of those panels are spaced far enough above the bottom of that relatively deep, elongated, retaining member to accommodate any and all anticipated movement of that relatively deep, elongated, retaining member relative to those lower ends of those-panels as f the ground shifts and heaves throughout the years. The elongated supporting member and-'the relatively deep, elongated retaining member each resiliently area below the mobile home. J

' 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SKIRTING FORMOBILE HOMES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 1 This invention relates to skirting which spans the distance between the lower portion of a mobile home and the ground, and which effectively encloses the space beneath that mobile home.

2. Description of the Prior Art Skirtings, which have used vertically directed panels to enclose the spaces below mobile homes, usually rest upon the ground or upon supports which, in turn, rest upon the ground; and hence, where the ground is inclined or is irregular, it is difficult to dispose those panels so they are vertically directed unless the lower ends of those panels are cut rather precisely to match the inclination or irregularity of the ground. Even where the lower ends of the panels are cut rather precisely to match the inclination or irregularity of the ground, the shifting or heaving which the ground experiences during the years can tend to tilt the panels or can apply undue stresses to those panels.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention includes an elongated supporting member which is fastened to the lower portion of a mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed; and panels are supported by and depend vertically downwardly from that elongated supporting member to form a skirting for that mobile home. The lower ends of those panels extend into a relatively deep, elongated, retaining member which rests upon the ground; and the lower ends of those panels are spaced far enough above the bottom of thatrelatively deep, elongated, retaining member to accommodate any and all anticipated movement of that relatively deep, elongated, retaining member relative to those lower ends of those panels as the ground shifts and heaves throughout the years. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an elongated supporting member which can be fastened to the lower portion of a mobile home so it is 'essentially horizontally directed, to provide a relatively deep, elongated, retaining member which rests upon the ground, and to provide vertically directed panels which can be supported by and which will depend downwardly from that elongated supporting member and which can have the lower ends thereof confined within that relatively deep, elongated, retaining member.

to the lower portion of the mobile home, and the-relatively deep, elongated, retaining member which receives the lower ends of the panels resiliently engage 2 iently held by a relatively deep, elongated, retaining member that rests upon the ground.

Each of the panels of the skirting provided by the I present invention has small ventilating openings in small portions'of the area thereof, and has the major portion of the area thereof imperforate. The ventilating openings are small, and thus limit the amount of air ,which can flow through them; but those openings are small portions of the area'thereof.

Other and further objects and advantages of the presentinvention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying a preferred embodiment of the present, invention-is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1' is a front 'elevational view of a part of the lower portion of a mobile home, and of part of the .skirting which is'provided by the present invention and which extends between that lower portion and the ground,

FIG. 2 is a broken sectional view, on a larger scale, and it is taken along the'broken plane indicated by the broken line 22 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 2, through the skirting shown inFIG. l, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, on the scale of FIG.

I 2, of a portion of one of the panels of the skirting shown The elongated supporting member which is secured v those panels. In doing so, that elongated supporting inFIG. l, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 2, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the broken line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I In the drawing, t e numeral lfldenotes the lower portion of a mobile home of any desired design or manufacture; and that lower portion will usually be set so it is essentially horizontally directed regardless of any inclination or irregularity of the ground on which that mobile home is supported. Thus,-as shown by FIG. 1, the lower portion 10 of the mobile home is horizontally directed although the ground 28 inclines downwardly from upper right to lower left. 5

The numeral 12 generally denotes an elongated supporting channel which is preferably made from a mate sturdy and rugged, and that is resilient in nature. One

such material is aluminum; but the channel 12 could be made from any suitable metallic ,or non-metallic material. Where the channel 12 is made from metallic material, it will preferably have a re-entrant fold 14 at the top thereof, and also will have art inner wall 16 that extends downwardly from that inner fold to abut the outer face of the lower portion 10 of the mobile home. Where the channel 12 is made from an extrudable material, .the re-entrant fold 14 will preferably be a thickened upper portion of the'wall 16. The numeral 18 denotes a downwardly and inwardly inclined flange at the lower edge of the wall 16; and that flange willstiffen that lower edge. As indicated by FIG. 2, thatflange will 7 bear against the outer face of the lower portion 10 of the mobile home when the channel 12 is fastened to that lower portion.

The numeral 20 denotes a rain-shedding portion of the channel 12 which inclines outwardly and downwardly from the re-entrant fold 14; and that rainshedding portion has a vertically directed lower edge which is equipped with an inwardly and upwardly extending flange 22. As shown particularly by FIG. 2, the vertically directed lower edge of the rain-shedding portion 20 is displaced an appreciable distance outwardly of the inner wall 16, and hence that vertically directed lower edge displaces the inwardly and upwardly extending flange 22 an appreciable distance outwardly of that inner wall. In its normal unstressed condition, the

skirting have-the upper ends thereof telescoped up into position adjacent the under surface of the rainshedding portion 20. The inclined flange 18 and the inclined flange 22 will coact to automatically guide the upper edges of the various panels of the skirting into position between the wall 16 and the vertically directed lower edge of the rain-shedding portion 20. Further, the inclined flange 22 will act as an inclined plane and will automatically cause the channel 12 to yield to assume the attitude shown by FIG. 2. However, as the channel yields to assume that attitude, it will develop restorative forces within itself which will enable the inclined flange 22 to press firmly against the outer portions of the various panels, and thereby hold those various panels firmly against the wall 16 thereby avoiding fluttering and vibration of the upper ends of those panels when the wind blows.

The numeral 24 denotes screws which e'xten through openings in the re-entrant fold 1.4 of thechannel 12 to seat in the lower portion 10 of the mobile home. Those openings will preferably be punched in that refentrant fold prior to the time the channel 12 is shipped from the" factory. However, if desired, the openings forthe screws 24 could be formed in the reentrant fold 14 by the installer at the time the skirting ings 40 are provided in the bottom of the channel 30, as indicated .by FIG. 2. The openings 38 and 40 accommodate spikes 42 which extend downwardly into the ground 28 to fixedly secure the channel '30 to the ground. The openings 38 and 40 are spaced apart several inches; and hence the spikes 42 are able to coact with those openings to solidly hold the channel 30 in parallelism, along both the X and Y axes, with th channel 12.

The channel 30 is preferably made from a material that is capable of withstanding theweather, that is sturdy and rugged, and that is resilient in nature. One such material is aluminum; but the channel 30 could'be madefrom any suitable metallicor non-metallic material. That channel will preferably be anodized, painted or otherwise protected to enable it to be long-lived although it must directly contact the ground.

When the channel 30 is in its normal unstressed condition, the inwardly and downwardly bent edge 32 is closer to the edge 36 than is shown by FIG. 2. However,

the resilience of that channel permits the edge 32 to move to the position shown by FIG. 2 when the various panels of the skirting'have the lower ends thereof telescoped downwardly into position within that channel. Thereafter, those panels will hold the inwardly and downwardly bent edge 32 spaced fromthe inner upper edge 36 of that channel by the distance indicated in FIG. 2. However, as the inwardly and downwardly bent edge '32 is moved away fromthe edge 36, restorative forces will be developed within the channel 30; and those restorative forces will'enable that inwardly 'and downwardly extended edge to apply resilient forces to the outer portions of the panels of the skirting, and thereby cause the inner portions of those panels to press against the inner upper edge 36. In this way, the lower portions as well as the upper portions of the panels of the skirting are firmly held against fluttering and vibration. v l

The numeral 44 generally denotes the right-hand end of a skirting panel; and that right-hand end has an outwardly displaced vertically extending portion 46 of rectangular configuration, has an inwardly displaced vertically extending portion 51 of rectangular configuration, and has an inclined vertically extending portion 48 of rectangular configuration extending between and interconnecting those vertically-extending portions. In

' the preferred dmbodiment shown by the drawing, the

is being applied to the lower portion 10 of the mobile home.

The numeral 30 7 generally denotes an" elongated channel which can be rested upon the ground 28 below ,-and generally .in' vertical registry with, the supporting channel 12. The outer wall of the channel 30 has an inwardly anclv downwardly bent upper .edge 32 which is arcuate in nature, as indicated by FIG. 2 The inner wall of that channel has a forwardly extending offset 34 from which the upper edge 36 of that inner wall extends upwardly. Openings 38 are provided in'the forwardly extending offset 34, and. corresponding open panel; and that panel has an inwardly displaced, vertioutwardly displaced vertically extending'pOrtion 46 6f rectangular configuration'is-aboutthree and threequarters of an inch wide, the inwardly'displaced vertically extending portion 5l 6f rectangular configuration is about A; to 3/16 of an inch wide, and the inclined ver tically extending portion 48 of rectangular configuration is about 7/8 of an inch wide. The outwardly displaced vertically extending. portion' 46 of rectangular configuration is displaced about of an'inch outwardly of the inwardly displaced vertically extending portion, not shown, of rectangularconfiguration..

The numeral 49 generally denotes a second skirting cally extending portion 50 of rectangular configuration at the left-hand end thereof. An inclinedvertically extending portion, not shown, of rectangular configuration inclines forwardly andto the left from the left-v hand edge 'of the vertically extending portion 5 0 to constitute the left-hand edge of th panel 49. An inclined, vertically extending, rectangular portion 52 extends hand edge of the inwardly displaced vertically extending rectangular portion 56. The numeral 60 denotes an inclined, vertically extending rectangular portion which inclines forwardly and to the right from the righthand edge of the rearwardly displaced, vertically extending rectangular portion 56 to the left-hand edge of an outwardly displaced, vertically extending rectangular portion 62 of the panel 49. The numeral 64 denotes an inclined, vertically extending rectangular portion which inclines inwardly and to the right from the righthand edge'of the outwardly displaced, vertically extending rectangular portion 62 to an inwardly displaced, vertically extending rectangular portion 66; and that inwardly displaced, vertically extending rectangular portion constitutes the right-hand edge of the panel 49. In the said preferred embodiment, each of the outwardly displaced portions 54 and 62 of the panel 49 is about three and of an inch wide, each of the inwardly displaced portions 50 and.56 of that panel is about one inch wide, each of the inclined portions 52 58, 60 and 64 of that panel is about /8 of an inch wide, the inclined portion, notshown, at the left-hand end of that panel isabout of an inch wide, and the inwardly displaced portion 66 is about 1% to 3/16 of an inch wide.

The numeral 76 generally denotes a third skirting panel; and that panel has an inwardly displaced, vertically extending rectangular portion 78'at the left-hand end thereof. An inclined. vertically extending portion 80 of rectangular configuration inclines forwardly and to the left from the left-hand edge of the inwardly'displaced portion 78 to constitute the left-hand edge of the panel 76. An inclined-vertically extending, rectangular portion 84 inclines forwardly and to the right from the right-hand edge of the inwardly displaced portion 78 to the left-hand edge of an outwardly displaced, vertically extending rectangular portion .82. The numeral 86 denotes an inclined, vertically extending rectangular portion which inclines rearwardly and to the right from the right-hand edge of the outwardly displaced, vertically extending portion 82 to the left-hand edgeof an inwardly displaced verticallyextending rectangular portion 88. The numeral 92 denotes an inclined, vertically extending rectangular portion which inclinesforwardly and to the right from .the right-hand edge of the inwardly displaced portion 88 to the lefthand edge of an outwardly displaced, vertically extending rectangular portion 90. The numeral 94 denotes an inclined, vertically extending rectangular portion which inclines inwardly and to the right from the righthand edge of the outwardly displaced, vertically extending portion 90 to the left-hand edge of an inwardly displaced vertically extending rectangular portion 97 which constitutesthe right-hand edge of the panel 76.

The numeral 96 denotes a fourth skirting panel; and that panel is identical to each of the panels 44,49 and 76. The portions 100, 104 and 102 of the panel 96are identical, respectively, to the portions 50, 52 and 54 of the panel 49.

Because the outwardly displaced portions 46, 54, 62, 82, and 102 of the various panels 44, 49, 76 and 96 are so much wider than the inwardly displaced portions 50, 56, 78, 88 and of the panels 49,76 and 96 and are still'wider than the inclined portions 48, 52, 58, 60, 64, 84, 86, 92, 94 and 104, those outwardly displaced portions constitute the major portions of the outer surfaces of those panels. Consequently, those outwardly displaced portions will be the predominant area of the skirting to which the eye of the viewer will respond. Moreover, because the portions 50, 56, 78, 88 and 100 are displaced inwardly of the plane defined by the outwardly displaced portions 46, 54, 62, 82, 90 and 102, those inwardly displaced portions will tend to be somewhat in the shadow. Similarly, the inclined portions 48, 52, 58, 60, 64, 84, 86, 92, 94 and 104 will, at least in part, also be displaced rearwardly of the plane defined by the outwardly displaced portions 46, 54, 62, 82, 90 and 102, and will tend, to'a lesser extent, to be somewhat in the shadow. The overall result is that the inwardly displaced portions 50, S6, 78, 88 and 100 and the inclined portions 48, 52, 58, 60, 64, 84, 86, 92, 94 and 104 will make less of an impression upon the eye of the viewer than will the outwardly displaced portions 46, 54, 62,82, 90 and 102.

' The numeral 68 denotes a projection which extends forwardly from the upper part of the outwardly displaced portion 46 of panel 44. The numerals 70 and 72 denote similar projections which extend forwardly from the upper part of the outwardly displaced portion 54 of panel 49; and the numerals 73 and 74 denote similar projections which extend forwardly from the upper part of the outwardly displaced portion 62 of that panel. The numerals 106 and 108 denote similar projections which extend forwardly from the upper part of the outwardly displaced portion 82 of panel 76; and the numerals 110 and 1 12 denote similar projections which extend forwardly from the upper part of the outwardly displaced portion 90 of that panel. The projections 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 106, 108, 110 and 112' are preferably formed by punching them forwardly out of the outwardly displaced portions 46, 54, 62, 82 and 90; and the sizes and configurations of those-projections are indicated particularly by FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. Each of the projections 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 106, 108, 110 and 112 is spaced exactly the same distance from the upper edge of its panel. The outer surfaces of the projections 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 106, 108, 110 and 112 incline downwardly and outwardly to act as inclined planes which will facilitate the insertion of the various panels 44,49, 76 and 96 up into-position immediately below the rainshedding portion 20 of the elongated supporting channel 12.

' sized particularly by P16. 4. The openings which are formed in the inwardly displaced portions 50 and 56, as the projections 75 are punched forwardly out of those inwardly displaced portions, are largely overlain and protected by those projections. Yet, those openings will permit air to pass through them, and thus will permit the area which is located below the mobile home and which is confined by the skirting to breathe.

The numeral 114 denotes rows of projections which are formed on the inwardly displaced portions 78 and 88 of the panel 76 and also on the inwardly displaced portion 100 of the panel 96. The projections 114 are preferably identical to the projections 75 on the inwardly displaced portions 50 and 56 of the panel 49. The projections 1 14 are preferably formed by punching them forwardly out of the inwardly displaced portions 78, 88 and 100; and those projections will at least partially overlie and protect the openings which are formed in those inwardly displaced portions as those projections are formed. Yet, those openings will be able to permit air to pass through them, and thus will help the space which is beneath the mobile home and which is enclosed by the skirting to breathe.

Each of the panels 44, 49, 76 and 96 is preferably made from a material that is capable of withstanding the weather, that is sturdy and rugged, and that is resilient in nature. One such material is aluminum; but the various panels could be made from any suitable metal-v lic or non-metallic material. In the said preferred embodiment, the distance from the left-hand edge of the inwardly spaced portion 50 of panel 49 to the righthand edge of the inclined portion 64 of that panel is substantially 12 inches. This is desirable; because it enables the prospective installer of skirting to add up the running fee of the perimeter of the lower portion of the mobile home and then order anumber of panels equally the total number of those running feet.

Where the mobile home overlies ground that has a pronounced inclination, as indicated by FIG. 1, the adjacent panels will have different lengths. Specifically, the panel 49 will be shorter than the panel 44, the panel 76 will be shorter than the panel 49, and the panel 96 will be shorter than the panel 76. If desired,- as in the case of the panels 44 and 49, the lower edges of those panels can be cut to, approximate the inclination of the ground 28. However, as shown by the panels 76 and 96,

the lower edges-of the panels will usually be .cut so they are parallel to the upper edges of. those panels. In the said preferred embodiment, the panels are offered for sale in five precut predetermined lengths which nicely accommodate most skirting installations. For example, one pr-e-cut, predetermined-length panel will be 18 inches long and will be used when the distance between the screws 24 and the ground is 21 inches or less, a sec- .ond-fpre-cut, predetermined-length panel will be 24 long and will be used when the distance between those screws and the ground is 40 to 45 inches. Where the ground below the mobile home is essentially horizontally directed and where the .distances between the screws 24 and the ground are essentially 21, 27, 33, 39, or 45 inches, no field-cutting of the pre-cut, predetermined-length panels is required. Even where the ground below the mobile home is not essentially horizontally directed and even where the distances between the screws 24 and the ground are not essentially 21, 27, 33, 39 or 45 inches, the use of pre-cut, predetermined length panels will materially reduce the amount of field cutting that is required. I

To install the skirting provided by the present invention, the installer will use screws 24 to secure the channel 12, further channels 12, and corner channels 12 to the lower portion 10 of the mobile home; and the channels l2 and the further channels 12 will preferably be made in 10 foot lengths. The corner channels 12 will preferably be madein 30 inch lengths; and they will preferably be provided with notches which extend outwardly through the inner walls 16 and the rainshedding portions 20 toward the vertically directed outer edges of those rain-shedding portions. Those 90 notches will enable those comer channels to form neat mitered corners for the channels 12. To install any given channel 12, the installer will place the inner surface of the inner wall 16 of that channel in engagement with the lower portion 10 of the mobile home at a desired distance above the ground; and then screws 24 will be passed through the openings in the re-entrant fold 14 and seated within the lower portionl0 of the mobile home. At this time, the various supporting channels 12 should be parallel to the-bottom edge of the lower portion l0'of the mobile home, andthus should be essentially horizontally directed.

Thereafterfthe installer will place the channel 30, further channels 30, and corner channels 30 on the ground in'vertical registry with the channel 12, the further channels 12 and the corner channels 12, respectively; and the channel 30 and the further channels 30 will preferably be made in 10 foot lengths. The corner channels 30 will preferably be made i'n'30 inchlengths; and they will preferably be provided with 90notches which extend outwardly through the forwardly extending offsets 34 and the upper edges 36 and the bottoms toward the outer walls; Those 90 notches will enable those corner channels to form neat mitered corners for the channels 30. Spikes 42 will be passed through the openings 38 in the ofisets 34 and through the openings 40 in the bottoms of the channels 30 and then driven into the ground. The ground may behorizontal or be inclined to the horizontahand it may be regular orirregular; but, regardless of the attitude or nature of the ground, the various sections of the channel 30 will be spiked to the ground. In those instances where the ground'is irregular, the sections of the channel 30 will bridge the irregularities. v

The installer will then-measure thedistance fromthe level of the screws 24 to the ground. at several points around the lower portion 10 of themobile home; If the .installer has a supply of pre-cut, predetermined-length channels 12, and the corner channels 12 so the distances between the screws 24 and the ground were essentially 21, 27, 33, 39 or 45 inches, he will cut the pan els to the desired length. Further, if the inclination of the ground is sharp, the installer may want to cut the lower edges of the panels so they approximate the inclination of the ground. In the preferred embodiment, the lower edges of thepanel can be cut with tin snips or a power saw. In any event, each panel should be dimensioned so its lower end will be spaced about 1% of an inch above the inner surface of the bottom of the channel 30 therefor when that panel is set in position within the channels 12 and 30.

Once a panel of the desired length is obtained, the

outer face of the lower edge of that panel will be placed against the rear surface of the inwardly and downwardly bent edge 32 of the channel 30; and then the installer will apply a force to that panel which will force the outwardly displaced, vertically extending portions thereof to move the outer wall of the channel 30 far enough forwardly to enable the inwardly displaced, vertically extending portions of that panel to fit downwardly into the space between the flange 32 and the edge 36. Thereafter, the lower edge of the panel will be moved downwardly toward the bottom of the channel 30 until the upper edge of that panel is wholly below the level of the flange 22 on the channel 12. The inwardly displaced, vertically extending portions of that panel will then be pressed against the outer surface of the inner wall 16 of the channel 12; and, thereupon, that panel will be slid upwardly until the upper edges of the outwardly displaced, vertically extending portions of that panel engage the under surface of the flange 22. As indicated previously herein, that 'flange inclines upwardly and inwardly; and hence it can act as an inclined plane to guide themovement of the upper edge of the panel into position immediately adjacent the under surface of the rain-shedding portion 20 of the channel 12. The outer surfaces of the projections, such as the projections 70, 72, 73 and 74 on the panel 49, also will act as inclined planes, and thus will coact with the inclined flange 22 to force that flange even further away from the inner wall 16 of the channel 12. However, after the projections at the top of the panel have been moved upwardly above the upper edge of the flange 22 of the channel 12, the restorative forces within that channel will force the flange 22 into position below the lower edges of the projections with a snap lock action. At this time, the flange 22 on the channel 12 will act as a supporting ledge for the panel; and it willhold all of the projections at the top of that panel at the same level. Because all of those projections are spaced the same distancefrom the top of the panel, and because the channel 12 is essentially horizontally directed, the flange 22 will coact with those projections to hold the'top edge of the panel essentially horizontal. This means that the panel will be vertically directed, and will depend downwardly from the channel 12. This is very desirable, because it provides auregularity and neatness for the skirting which will add a great deal to the feye appeal of that skirting and to the combination of the mobile home and its skirting. i

The lower edge of the panel will be disposed below the level of the inwardly and downwardly bent edge 32, and also will be disposed below the upper'edge 36, of the channel ;.but that lower edge will be disposed an appreciable distance above the bottom of that channel.

In this way, the panel will wholly span the distance between the channels 12 and 30, and yet will not be bent or distorted by any shifting or heaving of the ground 28 during the years.

As previously indicated herein, the restorative forces within the channel 12 will enable the flange 22 to press firmly against the outer faces of the outwardly displaced, vertically extending portions of the panel, and thus will cause the inner faces of the inwardly displaced, vertically extending portions ofthat-panel to press firmly against the inner wall 16. Further, as pointed out hereinbefore, the restorative forces within the channel 30 will enable the inwardly and downwardly bent edge 32 to press firmly against the outer faces of the outwardly displaced, vertically extending portions of the panel, and thus will cause the inner faces of the inwardly displaced, vertically extending portions of that panel to press firmly against the edge 36. In this way, the panel will be resiliently held in position and thus will be kept from fluttering or vibrating.

After the first panel has been installed, additional panels will be installed in thesame manner. As indicated by FIGS. 1 and-3, additional panels will be installed with the right-hand ends thereof overlapping the left-hand ends of the panels to their right.- At such time,

the right-hand edgeof the inwardly displaced portion 51 of the panel 44 will engage the projections of the left-handmost row of vertically aligned, horizontallyspaced rows of projectionsin the inwardly displaced portion 50; and that edge will coact with those projections to help maintain the panels 44 and 49 vertically directed and in parallel relation. Similarly, at such time, the right-hand edge of the inwardly displaced portion 66 of the'panel 49 will engage the projections 114 of the left-handmost row of vertically aligned, horizontally spaced rows of projections in the inwardly displaced portion 78; and that edge will coact with those projections to help maintain the panels 49 and 76 vertically directed and in parallel relation. Moreover, at such time, the right-hand edge of the inwardly displaced portion 97 of the panel 76 will engage the projections 114 of the left-handmost row of vertically aligned, horizontally spaced rows of projections in the inwardly displaced portion 100; and that edge will coact with those projections to help maintain the panels 76 and 96 vertically directed and in parallel relation. The left-handmost row of vertically aligned horizontally spaced rows of projections in each of the inwardly displaced portions 50, 78 and 100 is close to the left-hand edge of the panels 49, 76 and 96, respectively. This is desirable; because it limits to a small predetermined value the extent to which the right-hand edge of any panel overlapsthe left-hand edge of the panel to the right thereof. I

. The joints between the panels which extend along the sides of the mobile home and the panels which extend along the ends of that mobile home willbe overlain by corner members which are L-sha'ped in plan; and those corner members will have projections adjacent the upper ends thereof which are comparable to the projections 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 106, 108, and 112. As a result, those comer membersv also will have the upper ends thereof telescoped upwardly within, and supported by, the channels 12; and will have the lower ends thereof telescoped downwardly into the channels 30.

Because the panels are supported by the channels 12 rather than by the channels 30, the lower edges of those panels do not have to be cut to precisely match the inclination of the ground. In fact, as indicated by the panels 76 and 96, the bottoms of the panels can sometimes be parallel to the tops of those panels. Yet, irrespective of theattitudes of the lower edges of the various panels of the skirting; all of those panels will hang vertically. As a result, the installation of the skirting provided by the present invention is simply and quickly accomplished; and that skirting is neat and regular in appearance.

In the preferred embodiment, the panels are stamped to have embossed surfaces preferably embossed surfaces which simulate wood grain finishes. Such embossed surfaces are very desirable because they will not show dents which may be developed therein during or after the installation of the skirting. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the panels and the channels 12 and 30 are offered in different colors. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the notches in the corner channels 12 and 30 enable those corner channels to be bent to simulate mitered corners thereby facilitating the easy and neat application of those channels to the corners of the lower portion of the mobile home. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, access doors are provided which can be suitably used in place of some of thepanels to provide ready access to the space below the mobile home. In those instances where the mobile home is to be supported on a concrete slab, the channels can be cemented, rather than spiked, in position. t

' Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongatedmembers, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first-said elongated memtom thereof, which is shorter than the disstance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited heaving of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting'surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at .right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of saidsecond elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed.

relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member.

2. Skirting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panels terminate short of, and are displaced vertically above, the bottom of said second elongated member, whereby said lower ends of said panels can be cut so they are parallel to or inclined relative to the upper ends of said panels. I

3. Skirting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second elongated member is a channel which has the open portion thereof opening upwardly to confront said first said elongated member, wherein said lower ends of said panels extend downwardly into said open portion of said second elongated member, wherein the unstressed width of said open portion of said second elongated member is less than the thicknesses of said panels, wherein said interacting surfaces include projections on said panels and an elongated ledge on said'first said elongated member, and wherein said first said elongated member is resilient and will enable said elongated ledge thereon to apply compressive forces to said-panels, whereby said elongated ledge on said first said elongated membercan coact with said projections on said panels to provide a snap lock engagementtherebetween.

, 4. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable'to said-lower por ber while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to dependdownwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second. elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in verjtical registry with the firstsaid elongated member, and a plurality of panels whichcan extend vertically between said first. said and said second elongated mem-' bers, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other andwhich hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to besuspended from i said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said'elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongatedv member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorterthan the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of saidsecond elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to-permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited heaving of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member, said second elongated member being a channel which has the open portion thereof opening upwardly to confront said first said elongated member, said lower ends of said panels extending downwardly into said open portion of said second elongated member, said second elongated member having the major portion of the front thereof displaced forwardly of said lower ends of said panels to keep said second elongated member from binding against said panels as said second elongated member moves when said ground heaves, said second elongated member having the major portion of the rear thereof displaced rearwardly of said lower ends of said panels to keep said second elongated member from binding against said panels as said second elongated member moves when said ground heavesfthe unstressed width of said open portion of said second elongated member being less than the thicknesses of said panels, and said second elongated member being resilient and applying compressive forces to said panels that will keep said lower ends of said panels from vibrating.

5. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel-to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said'bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of saidsecond elongated member despite limited"heaving of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free 'of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member, said first said elongated member being a-channel which has the open portion thereof opening downwardly to confront said second elongated member, said upper ends of said panels extending upwardly into said open portion of said first saidelongated member, said first'said elongated member having the rear portion thereof extending downwardly below the level of the front portion thereof to facilitate the insertion of said upper ends of said panels into said open portion of said first said elongated member, the unstressed width of said open portion of said first said elongated member being less than the thicknesses of said panels, and said first said elongated member being resilient and applying compressiveforces to said panels that will keep said upper ends of said panels from vibrating;

' 6. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lowerportion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member thatis securable to saidlower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited heaving of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said'first said elongatedmember and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member, said first said elongated member being a channel which has the open portion thereof opening downwardly to confront said second elongated member, said upper'ends of saidpanels extending upwardly into said open portion of said first said elongated member, said first said elongated member having the rear portion thereof extending downwardly below the level of the front portion thereof to facilitate the insertion of said upper ends of said panels into said open portion of said first said elongated member, .the unstressed width of said open portion of said first said elongated member being less thanthe thicknesses of said panels, said first said elongated mernber being resilient and applying compressive forces to said panels that will keep said upper ends of said panels from vibrating, said second elongated member being a channel which has the' open portion thereof opening upwardly to'confront said first said elongated member, said lower ends of said panels extending downwardly into saidopen portion of said second elongated member, said second elongated rnember having the major portion of the front thereof displaced forwardly of said lower ends of said panels to keep said second elongated member from binding against said panels as said second elongated member moves when said ground heaves, said second elongated member having the major portion of the rear thereof displaced rearwardly of said lower ends of said panels to keep said second elongated member from binding against said panels as said second elongated member moves when said ground heaves, the unstressed width of said open portion of said second elongated member being less than the thicknesses of said panels, and said second elongated member being resilient and applying compressive forces to said panels that will keep said lower ends of said panels from vibrating.

7. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second'elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having'interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member'which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distancesbelow the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said. upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels'depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel" to continue to depend downardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited heaving of the ground to which said second elongated member. is secured, the short lengths of said, panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panelsand said interacting surfaces on said firstsaid elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles panels overlapping the edge of an adjacent panel and abutting a projection on said adjacent panel to help hold the vertical edges of said one and said adjacent panels in parallel relation, and said projection being close to and at least-partially overlying a ventilating opening in said adjacent panel.

8. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereonand the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and v have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited heaving of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions ofsaid panels and said portion of said second elongated member, the edge of one of said panels overlapping the edge of an adjacent panel and abutting a projection on said adjacent panel to help hold the vertical edges of said one and said adjacent panels in parallel relation, said projection being close to and at least partially overlying a ventilating opening in said adjacent panel, and said projection being close to said edge of said adjacent panel to limit to a small predetermined value the extent to which said edge of said one panel overlaps said edge of said adjacent panel. 

1. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the disstance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited ''''heaving'''' of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member.
 2. Skirting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panels terminate short of, and are displaced vertically above, the bottom of said second elongated member, whereby said lower ends of said panels can be cut so they are parallel to or inclined relative to the upper ends of said panels.
 3. Skirting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second elongated member is a channel which has the open portion thereof opening upwardly to confront said first said elongated member, wherein said lower ends of said panels extend downwardly into said open portion of said second elongated member, wherein the unstressed width of said open portion of said second elongated member is less than the thicknesses of said panels, wherein said interacting surfaces include projections on said panels and an elongated ledge on said first said elongated member, and wherein said first said elongated member is resilient and will enable said elongated ledge thereon to apply compressive forces to said panels, whereby said elongated ledge on said first said elongated member can coact with said projections on said panels to provide a ''''snap lock'''' engagement therebetween.
 4. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which iS spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited ''''heaving'''' of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member, said second elongated member being a channel which has the open portion thereof opening upwardly to confront said first said elongated member, said lower ends of said panels extending downwardly into said open portion of said second elongated member, said second elongated member having the major portion of the front thereof displaced forwardly of said lower ends of said panels to keep said second elongated member from binding against said panels as said second elongated member moves when said ground ''''heaves,'''' said second elongated member having the major portion of the rear thereof displaced rearwardly of said lower ends of said panels to keep said second elongated member from binding against said panels as said second elongated member moves when said ground ''''heaves,'''' the unstressed width of said open portion of said second elongated member being less than the thicknesses of said panels, and said second elongated member being resilient and applying compressive forces to said panels that will keep said lower ends of said panels from vibrating.
 5. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting suRfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited ''''heaving'''' of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member, said first said elongated member being a channel which has the open portion thereof opening downwardly to confront said second elongated member, said upper ends of said panels extending upwardly into said open portion of said first said elongated member, said first said elongated member having the rear portion thereof extending downwardly below the level of the front portion thereof to facilitate the insertion of said upper ends of said panels into said open portion of said first said elongated member, the unstressed width of said open portion of said first said elongated member being less than the thicknesses of said panels, and said first said elongated member being resilient and applying compressive forces to said panels that will keep said upper ends of said panels from vibrating.
 6. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated meMber, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited ''''heaving'''' of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member, said first said elongated member being a channel which has the open portion thereof opening downwardly to confront said second elongated member, said upper ends of said panels extending upwardly into said open portion of said first said elongated member, said first said elongated member having the rear portion thereof extending downwardly below the level of the front portion thereof to facilitate the insertion of said upper ends of said panels into said open portion of said first said elongated member, the unstressed width of said open portion of said first said elongated member being less than the thicknesses of said panels, said first said elongated member being resilient and applying compressive forces to said panels that will keep said upper ends of said panels from vibrating, said second elongated member being a channel which has the open portion thereof opening upwardly to confront said first said elongated member, said lower ends of said panels extending downwardly into said open portion of said second elongated member, said second elongated member having the major portion of the front thereof displaced forwardly of said lower ends of said panels to keep said second elongated member from binding against said panels as said second elongated member moves when said ground ''''heaves,'''' said second elongated member having the major portion of the rear thereof displaced rearwardly of said lower ends of said panels to keep said second elongated member from binding against said panels as said second elongated member moves when said ground ''''heaves,'''' the unstressed width of said open portion of said second elongated member being less than the thicknesses of said panels, and said second elongated member being resilient and applying compressive forces to said panels that will keep said lower ends of said panels from vibrating.
 7. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated membEr while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited ''''heaving'''' of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member, the edge of one of said panels overlapping the edge of an adjacent panel and abutting a projection on said adjacent panel to help hold the vertical edges of said one and said adjacent panels in parallel relation, and said projection being close to and at least partially overlying a ventilating opening in said adjacent panel.
 8. Skirting, for the space between the ground and the lower portion of a mobile home, which comprises an elongated member that is securable to said lower portion of said mobile home so it is essentially horizontally directed, a second elongated member that is securable to the ground below the level of and essentially in vertical registry with the first said elongated member, and a plurality of panels which can extend vertically between said first said and said second elongated members, said panels and said first said elongated member having interacting surfaces thereon which engage each other and which hold the upper ends of said panels in assembled relation with said first said elongated member while permitting said panels to be suspended from said first said elongated member and also permitting the lower ends of said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member to engage a portion of said second elongated member which is spaced above the level of the bottom of said second elongated member, said interacting surfaces on said panels being spaced fixed distances below the upper ends of said panels and coacting with said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to hold said upper ends of said panels fixed distances above the points of engagement between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member, each of said panels having a length, between the interacting surface thereon and the bottom thereof, which is shorter than the distance between said bottom of said second elongated member and the point of engagement between said interacting surface on said panel and said interacting surface on said first said elongated member, whereby said panels depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and have said bottoms thereof spaced above the level of said bottom of said second elongated member, each of said panels being short enough to permit said panel to continue to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member and to have said bottom thereof spaced above said bottom of said second elongated member despite limited ''''heaving'''' of the ground to which said second elongated member is secured, the short lengths of said panels coacting with the engagements between said interacting surfaces on said panels and said interacting surfaces on said first said elongated member to permit said panels to depend downwardly from said first said elongated member essentially at right angles to said first said elongated member and hence in essentially vertical positions, said panels having the portions thereof which are immediately adjacent said portion of said second elongated member free of abutments which could interfere with unobstructed relative movement between said portions of said panels and said portion of said second elongated member, the edge of one of said panels overlapping the edge of an adjacent panel and abutting a projection on said adjacent panel to help hold the vertical edges of said one and said adjacent panels in parallel relation, said projection being close to and at least partially overlying a ventilating opening in said adjacent panel, and said projection being close to said edge of said adjacent panel to limit to a small predetermined value the extent to which said edge of said one panel overlaps said edge of said adjacent panel. 